Electrode connecting device for furnace

ABSTRACT

An electrode connecting device for furnaces comprises an upper guide for supporting rods, a lower guide for supporting rods, a plurality of outwardly curved supporting rods connected between said upper and lower guides, driving means each mounted on one end of each of said supporting rods for pulling the respective rods, and wheels each rotatably mounted on the center of each of said supporting rods.

0 v United States Patent 11 1 1111 3,795,753

' Mori et al. Mar. 5, 1974 ELECTRODE CONNECTING DEVICE FOR [56] References Cited FURNACE FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS [75] lnventorsz'Masahiro Mori; Atsuhiko Noda, 7 578,473 7/1946 Great Britain 1. 13/18 both of Tokyo; Shigeo Tokunaga, 976,617 1/1964 Germany 13/18 Nagoya all of Japan 1,080,708 Germany 13/18 [73] Assignee: g igas l zglg Kaisha Primary ExaminerR0y N. Envall, Jr. [22] Filed: Feb. 9, 1973 57 ABSTRACT [21] Appl. No.: 331,049 An electrode connecting device for furnaces comprises an upper guide for supporting rods, 21 lower [30] Foreign Application Priority Dam guide for supporting rods, a plurality of outwardly 1 curved supporting rods connected between said upper Feb. 10, 1972 Japan 4743944 and lower guides driving means each mounted on one end of each of said supporting rods for pulling the re- [52] US. Cl. 13/18 spective rods, and wheels each rotatably mounted on the center of each of i pp i g rods.

4 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures ELECTRODE CONNECTING DEVICE FOR FURNACE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to an electrode connecting device for use in furnaces.

2. Description of the Prior Art An electrode connecting device for furnaces as invented differently from this invention wherein a new electrode is held by a carriage provided on a MOTO arm (linear actuator) has the following disadvantages: for connecting a new electrode with an old electrode a human operator is required to get on the top of a furnace and make alignment of the electrodes; a special working operation is required to prevent the hook of a crane from rotating; there is a risk that adjacent electrodes would be damaged by the stopper; and another special working operation is required to demount the device from the new electrode.

Therefore, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved electrode connecting device wherein no human operator is required to get on the top of a furnace, but the connection of a new electrode with an old electrode can be efficiently effected according to remotely controlled operation or automatic operation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The electrode connecting device of this invention comprises an upper guide for supporting rods, a lower guide for supporting rods, a plurality of outwardly curved supporting rods connected between said upper and lower guides, driving means each mounted on one end of each of said supporting rods for pulling the respective supporting rod, and wheels each rotatably mounted on the center of each of said supporting rods. According to this device, a new electrode is first held by the wheels mounted on the center of the supporting rods. The electrode connecting device is carried to the top of a furnace with the new electrode being held therein and guided to come to over an old electrode. Then, motors are driven under remotely controlled operation or automatic operation so that the wheels may be rotated to cause the new electrode to screw down, for connecting the new electrode with the old electrode.

Since the central portions of all of the supporting rods are adapted to be simultaneously displaced inwards and thus the associated wheels can be simultaneously displaced inwards to grip the electrode, thereby centering of the electrode can be easily achieved. 1

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to FIG. 1, there is illustrated an electrode connecting device according to this invention. In

use, a new electrode A is inserted into the upper and lower guides 1 and l in a site apart from a furnace. Motors 3 provided on the supporting pipes 17 of the guide 1 are driven. As will be seen best from FIGS. 2 and 3, rotational motions of the motors 3 are imparted to worms 9 provided on the shafts of the motors 3 and then to worm wheels ll provided on the supporting pipes 17. The worm wheels 11 are connected to pinions 10 through shafts 13 which pass through the windows of the supporting pipes 17 to engage with racks provided on supporting rods 14. Therefore, rotation of the worm wheels 11 causes rotation of the pinions 10, thereby the supporting rods 14 are pulled upwardly. Thus, the supporting rods 14 are made less outwardly curved to cause the wheels 7 to bear against the peripheral surface of the new electrode A. After the new electrode A is held by the wheels as mentioned above, the hook of a crane is hooked to a hanging band 5 and then the crane is operated so that the electrode connecting device is lifted up and brought to over the old electrode used in the furnace. The electrode connecting device is positioned in such a manner that a guiding member 6 provided on the supporting rod guide 1' is fitted onto a skirt 4 which is provided on the top of the arc furnace and formed of pipes and then claws 15 provided on the guide member-6 engage with the pipes of the skirt 4, thereby alignment of the new electrodewith the old electrode is securely achieved. The rotating shafts-of the motors 8 provided on the supporting rods 14 are provided with gears 8A. The gears 8A engage with gears 7A provided on the wheels 7. When-the motors 8 are driven, the wheels 7 are rotated to cause the new electrode A to screw down. Thus, the male screw A formed on the lower end of the new electrode A is screwed into the female screw A, provided on the old electrode A, thereby the new electrode A is completely connected to the old electrode A.

After the operator viewed from the window 16 and observed that connection of the new electrode with the old electrode was completed, the operator reversely drives the motor 3. Then, the upper ends of the supporting rods 14 are returned to their originally curved position. The wheels 7 are disengaged from the new electrode A. Next, the electrode connecting device is lifted up by a crane (not shown) to be disengaged from the new electrode A.

' As will be apparent from the foregoing, the electrode connecting device of this invention has the following advantages: the structure of the device is relatively simple; it is unnecessary for a human operator to get near an old electrode to connect a new electrode with the old electrode; since it is easily possible to displace the wheels 7 inwardly and to return them to their original position, itis easily possible to effect alignment of the electrodes; since the present device can be remotely operated by only a human operator, a new electrode can be connected with an oldelectrode without risks that the human operator might fall down from the top of a high furnace and the human operator might be exposed to high heat; the present device is efficient; and the present device is useful in industry.

We claim:

1. A device adapted to be disposed in a predetermined position over a furnace for connecting a new electrode held in the device to an old electrode held in the fumaceQcomprising an upper guide for supporting rods, a lower guide for supporting rods, a plurality of outwardly curved supporting rods connected between said upper and lower guides, said upper and lower guides movably holding a new electrode. in aligned and in overlying relationship with the old electrode, said supporting rods enclosing the new rod as held in said guides, first driving means each mounted on one end of each of said supporting rods for pulling the respective rod, wheels each rotatably mounted on the center of each of said supporting rods, second driving means associated with each of said respective wheels for rotating them, said wheels being moved into contact with the new electrode when said supporting rods are pulled by said first driving means, whereby when said second drivingmeans is operated to rotate said wheels the new electrode is rotated and moved toward said old electrode to be screw engaged therewith.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said first driving'means includesa motor, a worm secured to the shaft of said motor, a worm wheel engaged with said worm, a pinion connected through a shaft to' said worm wheel and a rack formed on one end of the supporting rod and engaged with said pinion.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said second driving means includes a motor, a gear driven by said'motoriand each of=said wheels is provided with another gear which is engaged withsaid gear 7 ing relationship with the old electrode. 

1. A device adapted to be disposed in a predetermined position over a furnace for connecting a new electrode held in the device to an old electrode held in the furnace, comprising an upper guide for supporting rods, a lower guide for supporting rods, a plurality of outwardly curved supporting rods connected between said upper and lower guides, said upper and lower guides movably holding a new electrode in aligned and in overlying relationship with the old electrode, said supporting rods enclosing the new rod as held in said guides, first driving means each mounted on one end of each of said supporting rods for pulling the respective rod, wheels each rotatably mounted on the center of each of said supporting rods, second driving means associated with each of said respective wheels for rotating them, said wheels being moved into contact with the new electrode when said supporting rods are pulled by said first driving means, whereby when said second driving means is operated to rotate Said wheels the new electrode is rotated and moved toward said old electrode to be screw engaged therewith.
 2. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said first driving means includes a motor, a worm secured to the shaft of said motor, a worm wheel engaged with said worm, a pinion connected through a shaft to said worm wheel and a rack formed on one end of the supporting rod and engaged with said pinion.
 3. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said second driving means includes a motor, a gear driven by said motor and each of said wheels is provided with another gear which is engaged with said gear as driven by said motor.
 4. A device as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a guiding member depending from said lower guide, a skirt adapted to be disposed on the furnace at the predetermined position over the old electrode, said guiding member and said skirt having mating members whereby when said guiding member is received over said skirt the new electrode is in aligned and in overlying relationship with the old electrode. 